SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - The All-Star Five at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 in Puerto Rico was headlined by TISSOT MVP Jose Alvarado, who guided Puerto Rico to Paris 2024.
These were the best players of the week in San Juan:
Jose Alvarado - Puerto Rico
Stats: 16.5 EFF, 16.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.3 SPG - 50% FG, 50% 3PT, 100% FT
Alvarado was the heart and soul of Puerto Rico, saving his best performances for the crucial games against Italy and Lithuania.
The 26-year-old dropped 29 against Italy to win Group B and then followed it up with 23 points in the final to defeat Lithuania and send Puerto Rico back to the Olympics for the first time in 20 years.
Tremont Waters - Puerto Rico
Stats: 13.5 EFF, 15.3 PPG, 5.5 APG, 1.5 SPG - 42.9% FG, 35.7% 3PT
Waters had an incredible week on the offensive end for Puerto Rico, with his percentages not exactly doing justice to his situational contributions.
The 26-year-old had 24 points and 4 assists in the emphatic Semi-Final win against Mexico and then backed it up with another 18 in the Final against Lithuania, with 10 of those coming in a crucial second-quarter stretch where the boricuas retook the lead.
Marius Grigonis - Lithuania
Stats: 17.5 EFF, 17.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.8 APG - 51.1% FG, 46.4% 3PT
Grigonis was having a magnificent week for Lithuania, but couldn't replicate in the ticket-decider. He collected 8 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in the Final against Puerto Rico.
The 30-year-old sharpshooter dropped 21 in the opener against Mexico and then 23 in the Semi-Final against Italy, coming into Sunday at 50 percent from beyond the arc. He shot 2-for-6 from downtown in the Final.
Danilo Gallinari - Italy
Stats: 16.5 EFF, 14.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.0 APG - 63.2% FG, 66.7% 3PT, 88.2% FT
Gallinari had a consistent showing in San Juan despite Italy's disappointing 1-2 record and subsequent elimination in the Semi-Finals.
The 35-year-old veteran had 15 points and went a perfect 10-for-10 at the free throw line against Lithuania on what was otherwise a cold shooting night from the whole team.
Joshua Ibarra - Mexico
Stats: 21.0 EFF, 16.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.7 APG - 50.0% FG
Ibarra was instrumental in leading Mexico to the Semi-Finals with a massive 22-point, 11-rebound double-double in their win over Cǒte d'Ivoire.
The 29-year-old big man finished the tournament in the Top 3 in points, rebounds and efficiency.
FIBA